X Ambassadors - Townie (Virgin Music) 
Release Date: Out Now
Regular readers will know of my deep love and respect for X Ambassadors, they're the kind of band you would greet with a hearty hug and a tear in the eye if they sauntered in to your local pub having not seen them for a few years. So, you can imagine my delight when their latest album dropped in to my inbox. 'Townie' is a twelve track collection that begins with 'Sunoco' slithering in just as day breaks with a subtle acoustic melody, a sense of nostalgia and those trademark vocals full of soul, honesty and raw emotion. This is going to be an emotional ride people, the band are in reflective mood and that always gets me right in the feels.
'Smoke On The Highway' is a more upbeat but still raw bop perfect for road trippin' one a one-way tank of gas while 'Your Town' hangs around a muddy acoustic melody that feels like Kurt Cobain jamming in his kitchen before the drums and sliding strings make this swell beyond the borders of your mind. The reminiscence continues on 'I'm Not Really Here' but this time there's a pulsating rhythm and chugging guitar to give you a sense of escapism cemented by lyrics like "I want to get high, get out of my head, go swimming in the ocean". There's a surprising electro-punk feel to 'Rashad' as an urgent processed beat and thrumming bass line create an itchy sense of feeling trapped in a culture that doesn't say anything to you - we've all been there, right?
The acoustic mellowness returns on '(first dam)' with a teenage tale of injuries and catharsis before 'Fallout' takes us in a more country-strum direction but with soulful, passionate, almost gospel vocals crying out into the night. 'Women's Jeans' stomps and strums with a pleasing energy as Sam Harris tells more stories of growing up, misadventures and the lessons learned along the way. On 'Half-Life', however, it is the turn of the piano to take centre stage and if you've got dry eyes by the end of this one then you're a harder hearted beast than I. Similarly, 'Follow The Sound Of My Voice' tugs at the heart strings as you imagine Harris singing this song to his blind bandmate and brother Casey.
Penultimate song 'Start A Band' should be played to every kid in a small town looking for a way out, a way forward or a a spark in the darkness of suburbia - it is a beautiful capturing of the moment when an idea becomes plan, a plan becomes a mission and a mission becomes a calling. The album closes out on 'No Strings' which has a freeing and folky energy that leaves us on a high. Never has nostalgia, reflection and remembrance sounded so good - the audio version of sitting with your family and friends flicking through old photo albums and telling stories of the glory years. God I love this band.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/XAmbassadors